She must learn again to speakstarting with Istarting with Westarting as the infant doeswith her own true hungerand pleasure and rage.

-- Marge Piercy

Jul 28 Exprayeriment #7 -- Feels Like Letting Go

With God's help, I now gratefully and willingly release all that is not part of His Divine Plan for my life.I bless what goes, and with joyful expectation await the fulfillment of His promise of something better.

-Alizabeth Rasmussen

* * * * *

Everything I've ever let go of has claw marks. -Anne Lamott

Can you relate?

We sure can. So this week, with the help of Matthew Perryman Jones, we're exploring what letting go feels like. Or what it might feel like.

First, think about something you'd like to release. It could be (for example):

• something taking up physical space

• a recurring thought or story you tell yourself

• a fear that has been particularly real for you lately

• a habit or pattern you'd like to change

• a relationship, or a situation with another person

• a decision you're struggling with

It may be something you've been trying to let go of for years or something you're just now ready to start releasing. You'll likely be able to come up with a long list, but for purposes of the Exprayeriment, pick just one...trust yourself, you'll know which one.

If you are so inspired, write it down. If you're further inspired, do some journaling about it. How long has it been with you? What makes it so difficult to release? And how has holding on benefited you? If releasing feels especially difficult, use the prayer above. Write it down on the page or say it out loud, or both.

As you hold in your mind what it is you want to let go of, hit "play" and listen to "Feels Like Letting Go." And imagine what it would feel like to let go of this thing/person/situation. Allow those feelings - likely quite a mixed bag - and imagine yourself free of what it is you're working to release. How do you see yourself in that picture?

Listen a few times over the course of the week. Find some time and space to listen while singing along at the top of your lungs. Very effective. :-) (We've included the lyrics below.)

Have fun and let us all know how it goes! Click here to log in. If you are unable to view the video from your e-mail, here is the You Tube link.

Oh my love help me open my heart again tear it open let the rain fall in wash this hardness underneath my skin oh my love let me hear your voice come through I wanna know the love inside of you make this dark heart believe in what is true

Pre-chorus

I know that in the dark there's a fear of letting go I know that in my heart that I fear what I don't know

Chorus and this feels like I'm letting go and this feels like I'm letting go I'm letting go

it's hard to trust when your hearts been broken times before you pull the curtains and you lock the doors swear you'll never go out anymore

Pre-chorus

Chorus

well I'm stepping out I can't see there is no sound a seeming void becomes a solid ground I sight I lost becomes a faith I've found